Key-controlled lighting and ignition switch



May 1, 1928.

S; F. BRIGGS KEY CONTROLLED LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH 2 Sheeis-5heet 1 Original Filed March 15, 1915 FIG. 2

FIG.1

WITNESSES Kl/W/ fi AT TOR/V5 Y May 1, 1928. 1,667,716

S. F. BRIGGS KEY CONTROLLED LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH Original Filed March 15, 1915 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y???) U *%Z ATTORNEY Patented May 1,

UNITED STATES 1,667,716 PATENT OFFICE.

I. BRIGGS, OF IILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNON, BY IESNE ASSIGN- mars, m BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A.

common DELAWARE.

III-CONTROLLED LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH.

Original application fled larch 15, 1915, Serial No. 14,418. Divided and this application died January '5, 1924. Serial No. 684,624. 9

This invention has for its object to provide a switch depending upon the presence of a removable key for its operation, and adapted to control the lighting and ignition circuits of an automobile or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a key controlled switch with a contact member for controlling the ignition circuit, and adapted, when the key is removed, to spring to a position for rendering the ignition circuit ineffective as well as for stops for preventing the operation of the switch.

Another object of the invention is to perfoot details of construction of switch mechanism of this character.

Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the key controlled and ignition switch as herein claimed and all equivalents This case consitutes a division of my application Serial No. 14,418, filed March 15, 1915, Patent No. 1,496,447, patented June 3, 1924, for key controlled lighting and ignition switches.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate the same parts in the different views,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a switch constructed in accordance with this invention;

2 is a rear view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view showing by dotted lines the position of the switch in the oil. position; 7

4 is a similar view showing the switch in the dim 'tion in l:vhich 11:11.8 small headhgh' ts and the taillig' ts are .u'rning;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the switch in the on 'tion in which the large headlights and thfiaillights are burning;

Fig. 6 is a rear view with the base or terminal head removed;

Fig. 7 is a central sectional view of the switch with the key removed;

Fig. 8 is a similar view with the key 1n place;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation showing the ignition spring contact fitting between stop lugs on the switch member or looking the switchi :10 is a rear view of the hub with the swi or contact disk removed, and Fig. 11 is a detail view of the key guide.

or r

face and has arranged around said recess a circular series of depressions 12, some of which are formed in metal contact bushings which are forced into openings in the base, and on the bottom of the base form binding posts 13, 14, 15 and 16 respectively. \Vithin the recess of the base there is mounted a contact spring 17 by having a broadened end bent under and secured to the base by screws 18, one of which fits in a bushing19. The other end of the spring extends outwardly and then downwardly with its end positioned within a notch of a contact bushing which forms a binding post 21, the bent portion of the spring being confined within an arched staple 22 which is secured to and projects above the base. A switchmemberior contact disk 23 of insulating material is carried by the base part of the switch by having a hub 24 secured thereto and fitting within the opening bet-ween the edges of the inturned flange of the casing, and secured to the bottom of this disk 23 is a sheet metal spider 25 having radial arms with their ends convexed to fit the depressions 12 in the base, said spider being preferably in duplicate to increase the durability thereof. The spring action of these radial contact arms of t c spider bearing upon the top of the base 11 serves to hold the disk 23 in its bearing relation against the flange of the casing,

and suitable spacing posts 26 project from the disk 23 and engage the base 11 to limit the movement of the disk 23 toward the base. A pair of stop pins 27 project from the edge of the disk -23 and are adapted to engage a stop lug 28 pressed in from the side of the casing 10 to limit the turning movements of the switch member. A handle 29 is countersunk in and secured to the hub 24 and has a central cylindrical opening extending from its lower end to near its upper end where it is provided with a keyhole slot 30 through which a key 31 may pass and occupy the slot which extends entirely through the cylindrical upper pertion of-a key guide 32 fitting within said cylindrical opening of the handle. The key guide 32, besides its split cylindrical upper portion, has a boss 33 at its lower end which forms a central connection for the lower ends of the two sections of the split cylindrical portion, and parallel fingers 34 projecting from the end of the key 31 embrace the op osite sides of boss 33 and engage the fiange( upper end of a thimble or tubular plunger 35 which fits on the boss 33 and has a plug 36 of insulating material at its lower end by which it engages the contact spring 17. The plunger 35 is pressed upwardly by the contact spring 17 and is held thereby against the bottom of the cylindrical upper portion of the key guide 32 when the key is removed, but is forced downwardly by the fingers 34 of the key when the key is inserted, thus depressing the contact spring 17 until it disengages the terminal contact 21. The. key on being inserted through the keyhole 30 and pressed inwardly to' effect this condition is held in place by giving it a quarter turn which is permitted by the notches in the opposite-edges thereof receiving the flanged portion of the handle ,in which the keyhole is formed, and the upward spring pressure against the key holds i seated against suitable notches on the bottom surface of the said flanges.-

A pair of locking pins 37 project from the bottom surface of the disk 23 in position to receive the contact spring 17 between them when the key is withdrawn from the switch in the intermediate or off position, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 9, but when the key is inserted and the spring 17 is depressed it is carried out of the path of travel of said locking pins, as best seen in Fig. 8, so that the switch may freely turn. If the key is removed in either of the other positions of the switch the spring 17 will prevent turning in one direction, and the engagement of a stop pin 27 with the stop lug 28 will prevent turning of the switch in the other direction.

In connecting up the switch of this invention the binding posts 19 and 21 are connected with the terminals of a gas engine ignition circuit, one being a ground connection for magneto ignition and the binding posts formed by the contact bushings 13, 14, 15 and 16 are connected with the battery, taillight, small headlight, and the large headlight respectively. lVhen the switch is in the off position, shown in Fig. 3, there is no spring arm of the spider 25 in engage ment with the battery contact 13, and consequently none of the lamps are burning, but in the dim position of the switch, shown in Fig. 4, the spring arms of spider 25 are in engagement with battery contact 13, taillight contact 14, and small headlight contact 15, so that the taillights and the small headlights are burning, while in the on position of ,,tl1e switch, shown in Fig. 5, the battery conmay be the same lamp bulbs with dimming resistance in series therewith.

In operation the switch mechanism of this invention combines in the contact spring a switch member for controlling the ignition of the gas engine and a means for locking the lighting switch against operation, both depending upon the presence of the key which therefore constitutes a removable handle .for the ignition switch and serves to disable the locking means for the. lighting switch by its attachment. When the key is removed from the switch in any position thereof the switch can not be turned to change the lighting connections, and the engine can not be operated, for its ignition circuit is rendered inoperative by the contact spring 17 moving into engagement with the terminal contact 21 As soon as the key is returned, however, the ignition circuit is restored, and the contact spring 17 being depressed by the plunger 35 out of the path of travel of the locking lugs 37, the switch may be freely turned to any position desired.

The arrangement of the contact bushings and the spring arms of the spider 25 may be varied to suit the requirements as the switch is not confined to the particular connections shown.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A 1. The combination with an electric lighting system, and an ignition system for an internal combustion engine, of a single switch construction for controlling the operation of said systems, means for locking said switch from operation when the ignition system is not in operation, and a key insertable in said switch construction for unlocking said switch construction and at the same time causing the operation of the ignition system.

2. In an electric switch, a plurality of circuit contacts, a switch arm engageable with said circuit contacts in succession, a supplementary contact, and mechanism constructed and arranged to lock said switch arm in any of its successive positions and to simultaneously ground said supplementary contact.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

STEPHEN F. BRIGGS. 

